They were 12, and Lin had just started learning metalbending, after finally
mastering all the earth techniques her mother had showed her. Lin was sleeping on Air Temple Island, as her mother had just been called out on some emergency police business.
"You are lucky, Twinkle Toes Jr. With your fancy dancing, you don't get your feet pounded everyday during training." Lin flopped on her bed, in the room she stayed in each time she visited the island.
Tenzin looked up from his meditation. Shyly, he spoke up. "If you want, Lin... I mean, it's up to you... If you like, I could rub your feet with this special seaweed lotion Mother uses on our bruises and blisters and such."
Lin lifted her head for a second to look at him. Tenzin was smiling shyly at her. Lin smiled slightly. "Rub away, Twinkle Toes Jr."
Tenzin swiftly air-scootered out of the room, and quickly returned with a small glass jar. He opened it to reveal a soft green paste.
When they got older, it became a routine for them, whenever Lin stayed on Air Temple Island. It felt normal, wonderful to Lin. It was something she could depend on, having Tenzin there to soothe her aches. He would rub gently enough that it didn't hurt, but still firmly, with just enough pressure applied. It was her light after a storm, the relief after pain. It was a relaxing routine that required nothing from her for once.
And then, he dumped her.
Lin could understand why. She didn't want children, and Tenzin did. That was the major reason. But there were others, small reasons, and she knew as well as Tenzin that the relationship would not last. But that didn't mean she wasn't sad about it.
Lin was sad. She was devastated. She wanted to run after Tenzin, to beg for him to come back. But she didn't.
And the foot rubs stopped. Lin was surprised about how much she missed this small routine that had been a part of her life since she was 12. She was 35. It had been a routine for 23 years now, and she missed it. But they were gone now.
He was gone now.
Lin didn't resent Pema at all. She understood that she and Tenzin loved each other, and were a perfect match. She didn't even resent their children, Jinora, Ikki, Meelo, and the baby. But she still wondered how things could have been.
And she still had others. She had her mother, the greatest Earthbender, and parent she could ask for. And now, now that Tenzin was gone, she still had the rest of the family. She still had Kya and Bumi and Katara. They all cared for her, and she cared for them. But it wasn't the same.
Just after she lost her bending, she was on Air Temple Island again, in the room she knew as a child. And in came Tenzin with a small glass jar. Pema was just behind him. She came to Lin, and thanked her for what she'd done. What she'd given, to save their family. And then, with a quick glance at Tenzin, she exited the room.
Now it was just Lin and Tenzin.
Tenzin wordlessly helped Lin to sit up in her bed. And for the first time in over 15 years, Tenzin gave Lin a foot rub